He was back.
And he was pissed. May the Source take pity on those who’d caused his mood
Because at the end of the day, he would have none for them.
Another Sherrilyn Kenyon book finished, and another hero that I have absolutely fallen in love with! Cratus is one of the MOST tortured heroes in the series. Banished from Olympus and cursed by Zeus himself (God, I hate that guy!), he has lived a miserable existence on earth for 6,000 years, continuously tormented by Zeus and his cronies. When it is realised that he has the power to defeat a new threat against the world, Olympus sends for him for help. But they are too late, with the bad guys getting to him first and recruiting him to their cause, promising to end his suffering. It is up to Dream Hunter, Delphine, to find Cratus (now going by the name Jericho), and bring him back to fight for the good guys – even if she has to seduce him to do it.
Cratus/Jericho is an amazing character! An angry, violent warrior even before his exile, now he’s even more pissed off and antisocial.
(It) would have been tragic if Jericho were capable of feeling sympathy for someone else. He could appreciate it, but frankly, he didn’t care.
But there’s something about Delphine that draws him to her, and he finds himself immediately protective of her. As a Dream Hunter who is half human, Delphine does have some emotion, and that is enough to spark a fiery attraction between them.
I love the interactions between these two. He’s a big, scary warrior, and even though she’s small, she’s feisty and can more than handle herself. And before too long she starts to bring out a part of Jericho that he thought he had lost and there is some fantastic bantering.
“You really can’t help being an asshole, can you?”
“I probably could, but it’s not worth the effort.”
With both of them having spent centuries alone, they are both desperate to feel some sort of affection, and it doesn’t take long for things to get steamy. And then when the romance comes… swooooooon! Who would have thought the big warrior would have it in him!
“You are all that matters to me, my angel, and I would walk through hell just to touch your face.”
This book is an intense ride! It’s action packed from the very beginning, and doesn’t let up the whole way through. So much happens, with new bad guys Noir and Azura (evil, evil, evil) plotting to take over the world, starting with taking the Dream Hunters captive. It’s up to Jericho and Delphine – with a little help from series faves Acheron (squee), Zarek, Jaden and Jared (big plot developments here) to save the day. We also get introduced to the demon Asmodeus, who is freaking hilarious!
There is a big action scene, but the climax of the book (which includes an epic smackdown!) is more of an introduction and preparation for a huge battle to come. And as usual, little hints are dropped and further twists and plotlines are set up for future books in the series that give you just enough information to drive you crazy with questions and wanting to know more!
The series started with Dark Hunters vs Daimons, but it has become so much bigger than that! Kenyon has created an entire civilisation that mixes with mythology to become this massive world. It seems overwhelming at times, but the characters that she has given us that exist within her world all seem so real, and so easily blend with each other that it’s like you’re living the story right there with them. And I love that she consistently brings back characters from earlier books – there are a number of cameos in this story, and the epilogue had me squeeing like an idiot. But best cameo award goes to Zarek, with this little gem:
Astrid appeared with a crying toddler … Her face distressed, Astrid handed him off to Zarek. “Menoeceus wants his father.”
Zarek glared at her. “Bob is crying because he wants his mother to stop calling him that crap-ass name.” Zarek cuddled the small boy to him as he rocked him gently against his shoulder while he continued to wail. Loudly. “It’s all right, Bob. Daddy’s got you now. I’m saving you from Mommy’s bad naming taste. I’d be crying, too, if my mom named me after an idiot.”
I loved it! 4.5 stars!